Electrical system



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J. SCHAEFER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM II I I I IIII III II I II I 5 =11: =IIIIIIIIMIII III is I u I s, .n &%M% a IIIuuu I IIlIIIIII III IIMIIL Q0 Ii I I IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII at Ii. IE I Feb. 16, 1960 Original Filed Jan. 11, 1954 Feb. 16, 1960 J. SCHAEFER 2,925,574

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Original Filed Jan. 11, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

BY/MZKWW 5 1960 J. SCHAEFER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Original Filed Jan. 11, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LINE a R 7 M m 0 5 MM w y a y 6 "v a e 2 4 m z z z z z z z z z a 1 1 I I x 1 r v f L w; mt @L pr L Q 21H 9f T D a -w W i of "wt M Q Mu m2 w a id '0 w i w; a; m $1 an H W2 m1 w w. J J J I 1 I 1 1 r r 1 1 mt fi wt wt ML at wt gkhw 2 WM M ow 3 a 7 w v W N7 3 I v 3L QZ H 3/ 2Q 2 0L 21H 21H 1 f 4 w T 1 pi a Q Q Q E Q @E Z 9 United States Patent ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Joseph Schaefer, Chicago, 111.

Original application January 11, 1954, Seriai No. 403,312,

now Patent No. 2,831,074. Divided and this application April 14, 1958, Serial No. 728,137

6 Claims. (Cl. 338-132) This invention relates to electrical circuits and more particularly to a novel impedance system wherein current at high voltages may be safely conducted across small contacts arranged to divide the current flow. This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 403,312, filed January 11, 1954, now Patent No. 2,831,074, for electrical switch and circuit.

A primary object of the invention is to devise an electrical impedance system for dividing current flow and directing such flow through a plurality of resistances in such manner as to accommodate selection of any desired total resistance.

A more specific object of the invention is to arrange a plurality of impedances, preferably of uniform value, and another plurality of impedances, preferably tapered in value, and to connect one or more of the uniform impedances individually and in series with each other to one or more of the impedances of tapered value in series therewith and in parallel with the rest of the impedances of tapered value.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a switch embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a drive gear or spool for one of the movable contacts;

Figure 5 is a perspective of a pinion gear for transmitting driving force from a drive gear to its related actuator gear for a movable contact;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end view similar to Figure 1, but showing a modification of the switch;

Figure 7 is a Wiring diagram of a novel rheostat circuit in which the switch is used as a sequential tap switch; and

Figure 8 is a wiring diagram of another novel circuit in which the switch is utilized as a voltage regulator for a transformer.

Describing the invention in detail, the novel switch comprises a plurality of insulator plates illustrated at 2, 4, 6, and 8, although any desired number may be utilized. These plates are mounted on side panels 10 and 12, as for example by three bolt and nut assemblies 14 having spacers 16 to maintain desired spacing between the plates.

Each plate carries pairs of fixed electrical contacts 18 to 39, respectively, in the form of cylinders anchored by screw and nut assemblies 40. Insulator cylinders 42, similarly anchored by screw and nut assemblies 44, are positioned between the pairs of fixed contacts and are preferably of larger diameter than the contacts for a purpose hereinafter discussed.

Each contact 18 to 39 is provided with a connector ,fin or blade 46 preferably compressed between the contact and its supporting plate by the associated screw and nut assembly 40. The blades 46 are perforated as at 48, to afford convenient connections to associated leads as hereinafter discussed in connection with Figures 7 and 8. It may be noted in this regard that corresponding contacts of the respective plates may be interconnected by such leads, or if desired, all or any desired pairs of contacts may be independently connected to circuits which are to be separately energized and de-energized.

A movable contact 50 is associated with the fixed contacts 18 to 39 of each plate 2, 4, 6, and'8, said contact 50 being preferably in the form of a roller rotatably mounted as at 52 on a plunger 54 received within a spring tube or cage 56 which is manually press-fitted within slots 58 of an electrically non-conductive actuator gear 60 rotatably mounted on a shaft 62. Gear 60 maybe conductive if contact 50 is otherwise insulated from shaft 62, or if the contact 50 is itself connected to a lead and is used to close a circuit with each fixed contact. A compression spring 64 is compresed between the gear 60 and the plunger 54 to urge the roller contact 50 into tight engagement with the related fixed contacts.

Each gear 60 is actuated by teeth 66 and 67 of a pinion gear 68 rotatably mounted on a shaft 70. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the teeth 67 are mutilated, so that all teeth 66 and 67 mesh with teeth of the related gear 60, but only the teeth 66 mesh with three pairs of teeth 72 of a drive gear or spool 74 having a flange 76comprising notches 78 aligned with the spaces between the respective pairs of teeth 72.

By means of this novel construction, two of the unmutilated teeth 66 of pinion gear 68 ride on the flange 76 locking the gear 68 against accidental rotation until one of the teeth 72 engages a mutilated tooth 67 whereupon pinion gear 68 is rotated 90 to actuate its roller contact 50 from a closed or make position with respect to one pair of fixed contacts 18 to 39 to a closed or make" position with respect to the next adjacent pair of fixed contacts 18 to 3?.

The gears 74 are keyed to a rotatable shaft 80 and are arranged, as best seen in Figure 1, so that the roller contacts 50 are preferably sequentially actuated. In the illustrated embodiment, 30 rotation of the shaft 78 actuates the roller contact 50 associated with one of the plates, for example plate 2. Rotation of the shaft 80 through another 30 increment in the same direction actuates the roller contact 50 of plate 4. Rotation of the shaft 80 through a third increment of 30 in the same direction actuates roller contact 50 of plate 6. Rotation of the shaft 30 through a fourth increment of 30 in the same direction actuates the roller contact 50 of plate 8, etc.

Thus, it will be understood that the shaft 80 is geared to each pinion gear 68 at a 3 to 1 ratio in the illustrated embodiment, so that one complete rotation of shaft 78 actuates each of the roller contacts 50 three times in a sequential relationship with respect to the other roller contacts 50, although it will be understood that any desired ratio may be utilized.

The shaft 80 may be provided with a handle 82 or any other suitable actuating means (not shown) for manual or powered rotation of shaft 80 in both directions.

It may also be noted that as each roller contact 50 is actuated it rolls across one of the insulator cylinders 42 which separate the pairs of fixed contacts. For example, as shown in Figure 2, roller 50 has moved from its closed or make position relative to a pair of contacts 28 and 29 toward a closed or make position with respect to another pair of contacts 30 and 31. However, the insulator cylinder 42 between contacts 29 and 30 positively prevents any possibility of a short circuit therebetween. This action may be accomplished, as illustrated, by providing insulators 42 of larger diameter than contacts 18 to 39. or by any other construction wherein the insulators 21. are l than th gntacts t h tatiqnal 9?. gears 60.

The contacts of each plate 2, 4, 6, and 8 may be regarded as a bankof contacts, with insulators 4 2, betweeo the pairso fcontacts" in-each'banlg, e Figure 6v showsa mqdifipat pn wher in. Qu contac Qt each-pair is integral; with corresponding cpntaots of; ad; jacentxinsulator plates. Forexample, a continuous gory tact; rod, 841's substituted forthecontacts 1 o f Fign res 1 and. 2,'and similar rods, are suhstitutedgfpr contacts 243, 2.6., as, 3.0., 1:34, 3.6, d? Q8. of h pr vi us embodiment shown in Figuresv 1, and Ihe ends of these rods'84 are secured to a pair of insulator Plates '86 and 88 as'by-nuts9.0, and; one end of each 106.85. provided, with an-additional nut 92 atiording convenicntmeans for attaching-'alead' 9.4."A1so in Figure 6 the insulator cylinders 42 are'repl'aced bycqntinuous insulator rods 96,, OIiC'UfiWhiCh'iS shown iirthis: figure. "All. other parts of; Figure .6. are 'identic'al with "thos'e "or. Figures] l. to Sg'andv areidentified bycorresponding' numerals; although Figure 6' is fragmentary'to"illustr'ate the'above describedmodir' ficationsmfitheswitch'shownin Eigureslto "Themodificationof Figure 6 is particularly adapted to the novel"rheostat'systeme shown in Figure '7, wherein it will be "seen'that the' contact rodsi84i are connected to resistance's Z-T'to Z-9 'arrangedjin' series; Theseare preferably "th'ema'in resistances""and should b"ab1B to carry the full current in the rheosta't. In the"dia'gram*of Figure 7;"theinsulator plates. are shown at 2; 4,6, and 'Sfa'nd two additional plates are shown at 221 and 4a Dividing resistors D1to D-6 are connected 'in parallel with eachother, each'dividing re sistonb'ei 'ng connected t'othe fixed contacts '19, '21,"23,-"25, 27.,"29, 31,33, 35, and'37 ofo'he insulator platef' The resistors Z-i to Z '-'9 and resistors 'D-lfto D- 6 are'shown conventionally" and nlay be"sir'nple; resistors havingfixed resistance values or maybe conventional"adjustableke si'storswhich may be adjusted to anyp'redet'erniiiie'd'vahe'; With alternating current, reactors may "be S'ubs'tit ed-fo resistors to provide voltage er-eurrent regulat'fn.

The system shown in Figure 7 depict s' 'a250"ampere load rheosta t(25'to 2'50 volts that' uses a'"'s;ix"i5late 'seguential sWitchsuch as 'tho's'shown in "Figuresl'. to 6i Resistance values are showf in the" diagram by wayof example, and it will be noted thatiii' order to stay within current rating of' the epntaets oreminau 'soam eres it'is preferable'to ape; the resistan'cie'valiiesj erase divide ing re'sistors 'D-l' to D-6f1'fioi'exainpli'finthe'fiia" "er Figure 7- i- 1x 5,2, Si; iiz. J12, "-The minimum resistance of the rheostat shown in Figure 7 is dream ats'tep1"whereat'fmdvablecontacts5G connect the fixed contacts 1 9t5 the related 'eont'aetrea: 84. "Under these conditions current new acrdssiesisto'r's D-1 to D- is respectively, 0 amps, 48 amps'.,' 44 s s; 40amps., 34 snips amr'z9'aeipsi i Atstep 2'the1movab1e contact 50 of plate 2 connects the fixed contaot2l1fthefofto tiierelatedcontact 84', so "that the total i esi'staiiceinftliie rheostat i ohmwhich'isjthe value'of Dl lfandf A v is parallel with thevalue o f 13-2 to Deo'in'parallel, Under these conditions current flow across Z -1is"4 sea he iiiwabl? onse fixed contact 21 to 50 of plate 6 connects c'o 'ntact" mesa-"so t the total resistance in the rheostat is .129 ohm which is the yams. it 1-1 is De. in aaral el and n serie w t Z-l, in parallel with the value of D4 to D-6 in parallel. Under these conditions, current flow across Z-l is 119 amps., and current flow across D4 to D-6 is, respectively, 42 amps, 40 amps, 37 amps, 51 amps, 46 amps., and 38 amps.

At step 5, the movable contact 50 of plate 8 connects its fixed contact 21 to the gelated contagt rod 84, so that the total resistance in the rheostat is .148 ohm., which is the value of D l to D-4in parallel and, ir'i'series with 24, n aara le h the. raise. o 1 :5, and .1- nst lls-. Und r. t s con itiqns, rr nt. 119w. acro s. $2 81. amps, and currentiflo'w acro'ss 11-1 to is, respectively, 43 amps, 42, amps amps, 34 amps, 51 amps, and 44 amps- "-3.1... a -:L-

At step 6, the movable contact of plate 20: connects its fixed contact 21 with the related contact rod 84, so that th t tal resistan e in th rh qstatis 122 1 1 whi is th y-aw of D.,1 to 1: n parall v and n a with. ;1, in p al el/ h .1-6, U d th s gnditi ns c r; rent flow ac ss Z-l s. 2. p d. urrentflpwacrns D5110 D6. is, pec i ly, ps, 45; mp lamas, 37.,arnps., 32 amps, and 51. amps: At step 7, themovable contact of insulator, plate 5hr connects its fixcdcontactll, with the related control rod 84;, so that the total resistance in the rheostati is .20 ohm, the value, of D .-,-1 to D76; in parallel and in series with Z41, "Under these conditions-current flow across Z-l is, 250 amps, and current flow across D-1 to. D76. is, respeotively, 5,0.amp's., 4.8.an'1ps., 44 amps 49 amps, 34 amps, and.29 amps. 'Ihe'above values are approximate, and. successive steps in the rheostat would have the samecurrent. division and. voltage values iflthe current is maintained at 250Jamps.' The maximum total resistance yalue inthe system of. Figure 7. is reached when the sequential. operation of con-' tacts 50 finally engages all contacts 50;with the fixed contacts 37: and. the related contact rod 84, 'so that'the total resistance value is 1.0. ohm, which is'the value of D 1; to D-6Qin parallelv and. in 'series' with the value of Z-l t0 Z-9 in series. By proper adjustment of the resistance values and ratios of 2+1 to"Z'9 and D-1J to D6, the current in' the contacts can beheldto' a maximum permissiblevalue that they"c'an safely make andbreak. ""The'voltageacross resistors D1't0'D-6 is the voltage which "isbr'6lien by the contacts. Increasing the" number of"series"fesfli tors Z- 1to'Z -'6' (as'for'example'by"using all iif' thefidd numbered contacts 'of"Fi'gure s*1 and 2),"an di decreasing values of D-l to D6 results in smaller voltage drop that the contacts mus 'bre'aki'" In this manner, a heavy current rehostat may be provided with'sm'allcontacts' by subdividing the heavy'chr; ren t'into a larger number of smaller pa'rallelcur're'rits, Figure 8 is similar to Figure 7, and corresponding parts are identified b'ydriespohdingnumerals; --hovvever,in the'circu'it ofL'Figu're 8, the resistors ar'replaced' by trans former taps Z-1 to Z -6 of a conventional insulating or potential 'tr'ai sfo'rmerltlfl to produce' 'a voltage re l tor therefor. In thi's'a'rrangement, four insulator plates four dividing resistors" "D-l" 'to D-4 are used, however, more may beadded'ifdesiredi Similarly, the nove tem'may'e utilized as a voltage"regulator for an auto transformer.

I claim: 1 A voltage and current regulator comprising a plu rality oftganks offfixe'd contacts, the coiita'cts offeach the other contact of 'e'ach'p'a'ir being connected tbcor;

the related dividing resistor, and a plurality of movable electrically conductive means insulated from each other and each associated with one only of said banks for connecting contacts of its respective pairs.

2. A voltage and current regulator system, comprising at least two banks of contacts, the contacts of each bank arranged in pairs, a plurality of impedances connected in series to each other, one contact of each pair connected to a corresponding contact of an adjacent bank and to one side only of one of said impedances, a plurality of dividing impedances connected in parallel to each other, the other contact of each pair connected to corresponding contacts of the same bank and to one side of one of said dividing impedances and a plurality of movable electrically conductive means insulated from each other and associated each with one only of said banks for selectively interconnecting contacts of its respective pairs.

3. In a voltage and current regulator system; the combination of a plurality of uniform impedances in series, a plurality of tapered impedances in parallel, and means for connecting each of said uniform impedances, individually or in series with one or more of other of said uniform impedances, to one or more of said tapered impedances in series therewith and in parallel with the other of said tapered impedances.

4. In a voltage and current regulator system; the combination of a plurality of impedances in series, another plurality of impedances in parallel, and means for connecting one or more of said first-mentioned impedances, individually and in series with each other, to one or more of said second-mentioned impedances in series therewith and in parallel with the rest of said second-mentioned impedances.

5. In a voltage and current regulator system; the combination of a plurality of uniform impedances in series, contact bars each connected between adjacent impedances, a plurality of tapered impedances in parallel, a plurality of contacts connected to each of said tapered impedances, and a plurality of relatively movable electrically conductive means insulated from each other and each associated with one only of said tapered impedances for connecting the contacts of respective tapered impedances in step by step manner with the respective bars.

6. In a voltage and current regulator system; the combination of a plurality of impedances in series, spaced contact elements, each connected to and between a pair of said impedances, a plurality of impedances in parallel, a group of first cont-acts connected to respective parallel impedances, a group of second contacts connected to the first contacts, and relatively movable electrically conductive means insulated from each other and each associated with one only of said parallel impedances for successively connecting the first contacts in a sequence to one element and for then successively connecting the second contacts in the same sequence to another element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,724 Vlahos NOV. 18, 1952 

